Call to drop sex-work convictions

Advocates are calling for change as decades-old prostitution convictions continue to impact the lives of current and former sex workers. Many Kiwis are having to disclose historic charges and convictions for sex work when they apply for jobs, travel and study — something advocates say can cause discrimination.

Data released to the Herald under the Official Information Act shows more than 1000 people were convicted for the charge of prostitution soliciting from 1980 until sex work was decriminalised in 2003. New Zealand Prostitutes Collective Auckland regional co-ordinator Annah Pickering said some people have been turned away from certain studies and jobs due to their past convictions.

One woman, who the Herald has agreed not to name, was prevented from going to Canada because of a historic charge. “Twenty-eight years later I’m at a border filling in an onthe-spot visa application.” When she revealed her charge the woman said she had to fly back to New Zealand and send through information from the Ministry of Justice and police.“I didn’t have a criminal record. So that was confirmed, then I had to send that information to Canada.”

But she was unable to attend the research event she was travelling to.

In a statement, Ministry of Justice deputy secretary police Rajesh Chhana said the ministry was not engaged in any work on wiping historic sex work convictions. “Any move to expunge any particular type of historic convictions would require special legislation to be proposed and enacted.”

However, the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004 allows individuals with less serious convictions, and who have been conviction-free for a long period of time, to put their past behind them.